American and Indian culture

Differences lie between many aspects of American and Indian culture, religion and economy. While some distinctions are very hard to notice, others will jump right out at you. On the other hand, several similarities lie between the two nations as well. Culture is the pattern of human activities and the symbolic structures that give such activity significant importance.

Religion is a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people that is usually separated as a prayer, ritual, and religious laws. Economy is a system of human activities related to the productive, distribution, exchange, and consumption of goods and services of a country. Each one of these aspects plays important roles in every country. Although India and America has many differences, they also have as many similarities.

In the cultural view, there are many differences than there are similarities. The greatest difference is the marriages. In America, one can marry as they wish when they wish and to whom they wish. In India, the family chooses the mate for their child, which is called an arranged marriage. In most cases, the bride and groom do not even talk to each other until after they are married. The average age to marry in America is: for females it is 24 years of age, and for males it is 26 years of age. The average age to marry in India is: females it is 16 years of age and for males it is 21 years of age. American marriages are quiet and nice with the bride wearing a white dress and the male wearing a black tuxedo. Marriages can be held anywhere from the churches to outside on the beach or in someone's backyard. Their traditions are a bridal shower and bachelor party and the wedding and then the reception and that is it. Their food is mainly hamburgers and meats and salads. Their clothing for normal days is usually pants and a shirt for both male and females. On the other hand, Indian marriages are much more complex. They usually have weddings held at temples and some religions do them at the bride's home. The bride wears a heavy outfit which is usually the color of red and is called a lengha or sari or suit, and the groom wears a traditional outfit called a kaurta. Their traditions are very long and start about a month before the wedding and also a couple days after. Their weddings are colorful and loud with lots of little traditions within. Their foods contain lots of spices and a variety of different vegetables. Their clothes even on regular days are suits for females and kaurta for males. The similarities in the cultures are mainly that in both countries within the families, it is traditional for the man to work while the wife is home with the children.

This has changed in both countries for many people but it is still the tradition.

In the religious aspect of each culture it is amazing. There are so many religions with in each country. India is one of the most religious diverse nations in the world with one of the most deeply religious society and cultures. India alone has over 415 different languages, where as America is much more diverse but not within just America. America is diverse because of all the people that migrated from other countries including many from India (Native Americans called themselves Indians because they thought that they were in India when Columbus discovered America). Some of the religions in America are: Christianity, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mormon, Buddhist, Jewish, and Muslim. Some of the religions in India are: Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, and Hinduism (which is about 70% of the population).

In economic view, India and America are neck and neck with their differences and similarities. Despite the economic gains, vast numbers of India's people live in poverty. About 70% of India is poverty. India is the third larges in the world economically, but when measured in USD exchanged- rate terms, it is the twelfth largest. In the year 2000, India's population was 1.014 billion. Corruption is a huge problem in India; things such as bribes and embezzlement still exist and bring India down. America, on the other hand, has the world's largest gross domestic products (GDP) $13.21 trillion in 2006 (wikapedia.org). In the year 2005, the census was 295.734 million (econonmywatch.com).

In conclusion, India and America have more differences than similarities. The cinema world is one of the biggest similarities that tie India and America together. In America it is called Hollywood and in India it is called Bollywood. Bollywood is the same as Hollywood but the letter B is used for the city Bombay. They are joining together to create a huge cinema for the world. Bollywood has created much more movies than Hollywood ever did. A few more minor differences found on nriol.com are: India the neighbors are like family and their very informal, whereas in America, one can never even find their neighbors and when they do it is very formal. In India there is only one day, Sunday, that is considered a weekend or holiday, whereas, America has Saturday and Sunday plus holidays. India has servants and maids that do majority of the household work so it is living like royalty, whereas, in America, everyone has to do everything on their own. It is very convenient in India because shopping is for example, go to the shop and sit there and ask what one wants to see and they show all the items plus offer beverages and food, whereas, in America it is all about self shopping. Even when paying bills, in America people have to take out time to pay bills, while in India the bills that are due, a person comes to the door to collect. The only advantage is driving for America; it is safe and efficient, whereas, India is unsafe and reckless. After seeing all the compare and contrast points I hope that it is a clear picture of life in America vs. a life in India.